Top 10 Most Watched Sports Worldwide: 2024 Edition

If you were asked about the most watched sports worldwide, could you name the first ten picks? Football, basketball, hockey, and tennis would obviously be the top choices, but what sports occupy other positions? We have ranked the 10 most popular sports competitions in the world based on several criteria, from viewership coverage to merchandise sales.

Sport is life. Everyone should have heard this phrase at least once. Almost everyone in the world is somehow involved in sports: they either do it or watch it. We are going to speak about the latter today. 

There are countless types of sports nowadays; even the most popular ones have subcategories followed by millions. However, 10 titans are unbeatable if speaking about their influence and popularity. We will rank them from the least to the most watched following these criteria:

1. Most viewers, fans & followers
2. Sponsorship and investment
3. Best selling merch
4. TV coverage
5. Most popular competitions and players

Let’s go!

Most watched sports worldwide #10: golf

According to the statistics, golf is one of the most popular sports in the world. On average, Europe and North America have around 400 million golf fans. Unlike most sports on this list, golf is popular among older generations. However, it wouldn’t have hit the top 10 if golf hadn’t had fans among youth. Many people bet on golf, which causes its popularity on the Internet. Add brand sponsorships and one of the most watched sports worldwide is here.

You can bet on golf competitions, too, at online gambling sites in the UK.

Rugby is the 9th most popular sport

Rugby is an English sport similar to football, but players have an oval ball and play with their hands. On average, 400-410 million people follow rugby competitions. This sport is the most popular in European countries: France, the UK, as well as in New Zealand and Australia. There are a lot of famous rugby players, such as Owen Farrel or Alun Wyn Jones. Rugby is also relatively popular in the US, which gives it the #9.

People’s 8th favorite sport is baseball

According to 2024 statistics, baseball is the 8th most popular sport in the world. The game has the most fans in North and South America, Japan, and Australia. Like other kinds of sport, baseball has its own professional leagues and superstars. The promotion of baseball in many Hollywood films has also influenced the popularity of this game. Approximately 500 million people follow baseball matches across the globe. 

Popular sports – table tennis is #7

With more than 900 million people watching, table tennis places at number 7 on the list of the most popular sports. This game is well-known on almost all continents, with Europe, Asia, and Africa at the top. TV has influenced the popularity of table tennis the most as people follow the majority of competitions live. Although some may think watching table tennis matches is boring, it is far from the truth. Just read about the longest table tennis match and see how interesting this game can be.

Volleyball holds the 6th spot on the list

Volleyball is one of the most watched sports worldwide. This popular team sport has around 1 billion fans in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. Thanks to the 1964 Olympics, volleyball became one of the top sports in the world. Another reason why this game won people’s hearts is its accessibility. Unlike golf or baseball, you don’t need special equipment to play. Even amateurs can play volleyball with a ball and a group of friends.

Most watched sports worldwide #5: tennis

Tennis places 5th on the list of the most popular sports. It is one of the favourite sports of the British Royals as well as one of the most followed games ever. Even if you are far from tennis, you know legendary players like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer. According to statistics, more than 1 billion people watch tennis in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. It is also one of the most broadcast sports, with plenty of leagues and professional tournaments.

Ice hockey is 4th most popular sport

Here come the titans. Ice hockey hits the 4th position with more than 2 billion fans worldwide. Although it is a winter sport, hockey is extremely popular regardless of the season. Most fans live in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. In addition, ice hockey games are widely covered by TV and attract many viewers. In addition, there is a field hockey which adds points to its “big brother.”

Basketball games enter the top 3

With 2.5-3 billion fans, basketball enters the top 3 of the most watched sports worldwide. Its games are trendy in North America and Asia, while its most famous league is the NBA. Basketball gave the world such big stars as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Players’ salaries are high, merch is one of the best-selling, and media coverage is also satisfying. All this makes basketball one of the most popular sports to follow and bet on at Bet365 Sportsbook.

The second best-selling sport is cricket

The silver medal holder may be unexpected for some people, but it is true. Cricket is more popular than basketball, tennis, and rugby with around 3 billion fans worldwide. Most people are from South Asia, the UK, and its post-colonial countries. More than 2.5 billion people watch team competitions like the ICC Cricket World Cup, and its media popularity is growing. 

Football is the most popular sport ever

Is there anyone having doubts about the leader? Football is predictably the most popular sport in the world. According to the stats, more than 3.5 billion people watch football. We didn’t even count American soccer fans! Together with its “younger brother”, football will be unbeatable with approximately 4 billion followers. There is nothing to say about the merch and popularity of international competitions like the World Cup or Euro. Football also brought the world the most famous athletes – David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Pele, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, and many others. 

Bet on football and the EPL at online sportsbooks in the UK.

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